What cost per extra 1mph on bike?

[Robsti]

Getting yourself into a more aero position will probably give you more gains than spending money!

P.S losing a few kilos will also help.

[nammynake]

prand said:

The easiest upgrade i've found is very slick tyres pumped to their absolute maximum (over 120psi will do it) so a good track pump with a gauge will help do this, reduce rolling resistance as much as possible and you should get an extra couple of mph.

Perhaps if your tyres are at 50psi, but too high a pressure can actually have a negative effect. Most roads in the UK are not glassy smooth, tyres inflated too high will skip over the surface and actually be slower. I run 95psi front and 105 rear on my 23mm tyres. I am only 65kg though. But I wouldn't be going beyond 120 unless you are a chunky chap or ride on very smooth roads. Not to mention that higher pressure will give a firmer ride which can lead to greater fatigue on long rides.

[BMWBen]

Couldn't you also work it out in hours invested? How much extra training would it take to drop 1mph? I'd guess at 50 hours if you already ride at 20, or 200 hours if you ride at 25. Now if you're a company director the TT bike and aero helmet is looking cheap!

[Moikey Fortune]

"What cost per extra 1mph on bike?"

I was always told

"Time and effort..get the miles in..get your legs used to moving faster"

i.e. train in a lower gear..it used to be called "twiddling"

[BigBen]

I recently fitted some tri-bars to my bike and the improved riding position seems to give an instant 1-2 mph gain. Very good return for £50 or so.

[okgo]

But you look like a berk with them unless you are competing in an event or clearly practicing for an event. I see people who have them on their bikes all year round, makes you look like a bit of a tosser, and people that have them on their commuting bike!! Why?!

[BigBen]

okgo said:

But you look like a berk with them unless you are competing in an event or clearly practicing for an event. I see people who have them on their bikes all year round, makes you look like a bit of a tosser, and people that have them on their commuting bike!! Why?!

But they give you extra speed and I really don't care if someone thinks I look a berk or not. I go out riding for fitness purposes and to go as fast as I can, the few cows / farmers that may see me are probably not that image conscious so it is a risk I am willing to take.

[Roman]

As Specialized road bikes are very tall at the front with wide bars (making them feel comfortable for roadbike newbies) it can be very difficult to get low enough for an efficient (more horizontal torso) 'aero' riding position. You could try a 'body fit' session to improve your riding position and aerodynamic efficiency, however, you may discover you need a different frame with more traditional 'racing' geometry to achieve your optimum position.

If you're doing a lot of climbing then certainly some light stiff wheels and quality folding tyres will make a difference but personally, I'd feel silly resorting to deep carbon rims, tri bars and aero helmet in an effort to maintain 20mph.

Go out for some short fast high intensity rides or add some high intensity sections into your current riding, increasing the speed, duration and frequency of these sections as you develop.

[NitroNick]

okgo said:

But you look like a berk with them unless you are competing in an event or clearly practicing for an event. I see people who have them on their bikes all year round, makes you look like a bit of a tosser, and people that have them on their commuting bike!! Why?!

^^^^ Don't mind this tt. if you want to ride side saddled do it. How can you clearly " practice for an event" on them? should you be wearing a jersey stating you are just training? Really? Get a fking grip.

[okgo]

NitroNick said:

^^^^ Don't mind this tt. if you want to ride side saddled do it. How can you clearly " practice for an event" on them? should you be wearing a jersey stating you are just training? Really? Get a fking grip.

Because they're pretty much totally un-suitable for riding with other people as you will no doubt have seen on the various videos that show idiots riding in them behind other riders before stacking horribly due to having no brakes at hand, they're designed for tri courses which are most often long and straight. Nice of you to fling insults out so quickly.

What I meant by training is not doing your commute or club run on them, I've used mine in Richmond Park before TT's but only when its quiet and solo.

[NitroNick]

okgo said:

NitroNick said:

^^^^ Don't mind this tt. if you want to ride side saddled do it. How can you clearly " practice for an event" on them? should you be wearing a jersey stating you are just training? Really? Get a fking grip.

Because they're pretty much totally un-suitable for riding with other people as you will no doubt have seen on the various videos that show idiots riding in them behind other riders before stacking horribly due to having no brakes at hand, they're designed for tri courses which are most often long and straight. Nice of you to fling insults out so quickly.

What I meant by training is not doing your commute or club run on them, I've used mine in Richmond Park before TT's but only when its quiet and solo.

WTF? You are the one who started flinging insults!
The guy who posted didn't say he was riding in a group, he just said he fitted some tri bars.
Who gives a st about looking like a "berk". If he wants the 1-2 mph gain then let him have it.
I've ridden in a group on a TT bike (while I may have looked like a berk to you) i managed not to injure anyone, but I suppose its a hazard of riding a team TT
Sorry if i come across aggressive but the elitism of some "seasoned road" cyclists on here baffles me.

[T350 Al]

okgo said:

But you look like a berk with them unless you are competing in an event or clearly practicing for an event. I see people who have them on their bikes all year round, makes you look like a bit of a tosser, and people that have them on their commuting bike!! Why?!

In that case I'm a complete tosser! I use the same bike for training, commuting and sometimes racing (if it's too hilly for my TT steed) and as such, it's a pain to take my bars off, put them back on again etc. Not to mention that I never seem to get them to sit in the same place as before, it's far easier to leave them on.

Besides, when I'm commuting and on a nice quiet, straight stretch of road it's nice to get down on the bars and shift a bit!

[okgo]

NitroNick said:

WTF? You are the one who started flinging insults!
The guy who posted didn't say he was riding in a group, he just said he fitted some tri bars.
Who gives a st about looking like a "berk". If he wants the 1-2 mph gain then let him have it.
I've ridden in a group on a TT bike (while I may have looked like a berk to you) i managed not to injure anyone, but I suppose its a hazard of riding a team TT
Sorry if i come across aggressive but the elitism of some "seasoned road" cyclists on here baffles me.

I didn't call him anything, just an opinion on people that use tri-bars to gain more speed on a club run/commute etc. Just seems pointless.

Its not elitism just an observation that most cyclists would probably agree with. Hell, its probably one of the 'rules' that people on here seem to cream themselves over.

Yes a TTT is different, but again the terrain is designed for that (usually) so its far more safe than the tts I see using tri-bars down embankment in rush hour.

[yellowjack]

okgo said:

NitroNick said:

WTF? You are the one who started flinging insults!
The guy who posted didn't say he was riding in a group, he just said he fitted some tri bars.
Who gives a st about looking like a "berk". If he wants the 1-2 mph gain then let him have it.
I've ridden in a group on a TT bike (while I may have looked like a berk to you) i managed not to injure anyone, but I suppose its a hazard of riding a team TT
Sorry if i come across aggressive but the elitism of some "seasoned road" cyclists on here baffles me.

I didn't call him anything, just an opinion on people that use tri-bars to gain more speed on a club run/commute etc. Just seems pointless.

Its not elitism just an observation that most cyclists would probably agree with. Hell, its probably one of the 'rules' that people on here seem to cream themselves over.

Yes a TTT is different, but again the terrain is designed for that (usually) so its far more safe than the tts I see using tri-bars down embankment in rush hour.

It certainly is.

Rule #54 // No aerobars on road bikes.
Aerobars or other clip-on attachments are under no circumstances to be employed on your road bike. The only exception to this is if you are competing in a mountain timetrail.

[BigBen]

okgo said:

NitroNick said:

WTF? You are the one who started flinging insults!
The guy who posted didn't say he was riding in a group, he just said he fitted some tri bars.
Who gives a st about looking like a "berk". If he wants the 1-2 mph gain then let him have it.
I've ridden in a group on a TT bike (while I may have looked like a berk to you) i managed not to injure anyone, but I suppose its a hazard of riding a team TT
Sorry if i come across aggressive but the elitism of some "seasoned road" cyclists on here baffles me.

I didn't call him anything, just an opinion on people that use tri-bars to gain more speed on a club run/commute etc. Just seems pointless.

Its not elitism just an observation that most cyclists would probably agree with. Hell, its probably one of the 'rules' that people on here seem to cream themselves over.

Yes a TTT is different, but again the terrain is designed for that (usually) so its far more safe than the tts I see using tri-bars down embankment in rush hour.

There was an implication of me being a berk or at least looking like one.

Rest assured I won't be riding down embankment at rush hour, going on a club run or a TTT (whatever the hell the last two are) with them so it's all OK.

Ben

[ewenm]

Rocksteadyeddie said:

+



+



It's the only way.

Certainly the best way.

[NitroNick]

okgo said:

I didn't call him anything, just an opinion on people that use tri-bars to gain more speed on a club run/commute etc. Just seems pointless.

Its not elitism just an observation that most cyclists would probably agree with. Hell, its probably one of the 'rules' that people on here seem to cream themselves over.

Yes a TTT is different, but again the terrain is designed for that (usually) so its far more safe than the tts I see using tri-bars down embankment in rush hour.

The original quote was "I recently fitted some tri-bars to my bike and the improved riding position seems to give an instant 1-2 mph gain. Very good return for £50 or so."
What about that statement entitles you respond "But you look like a berk with them unless you are competing in an event or clearly practicing for an event"
I train with very deep section carbon rims: the sort of rims usually reserved for time trails and triathlons but I like them and feel comfortable on them, do I look like a berk if I'm not competing on them? Do I look like a berk using an aero frame, aero handle bars etc? I see people using tri bars on mountain bikes reguarly, do I think they look like a "berk" because of it? No I'm just happy for them, that they are out having fun on a bike.

[okgo]

yellowjack said:

It certainly is.

Rule #54 // No aerobars on road bikes.
Aerobars or other clip-on attachments are under no circumstances to be employed on your road bike. The only exception to this is if you are competing in a mountain timetrail.

I have fallen foul of that rule then

[ewenm]

Do people actually take The Rules seriously then?

[okgo]

NitroNick said:

No I'm just happy for them, that they are out having fun on a bike.

Cool, each to their own. I think its odd.